JP2019171048A - Body hair removal device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an improved operating head structure of a body hair removal device in which self-adaptation to a contour of a skin and change in skin surface orientation is improved.SOLUTION: An electric shaver comprises an operating head attached to a handle for moving the operating head along a skin surface. The operating head includes at least one body hair removal tool 4 that defines a skin-contact contour of the operating head, and at least one body hair removal tool can be moved with respect to the handle under skin-contact pressure by a support structure and enables the skin-contact contour of the operating head to pivot with respect to the handle. The body hair removal tool is provided with an energizing device that energizes and/or applies motion resistance to the body hair removal tool. The support structure and the energizing device enable the contour to pivot under contact pressure of 0.75 N or less and at angles of +/- 15 degrees or more and under contact pressure of 1.5 N or less and at angles of +/- 20 degrees or more, with a pivot shaft 8 of the skin-contact contour with respect the handle as a center.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a hair removal device, in particular, an electric razor, a work head, comprising a work head attached to a handle for moving the work head along the skin surface, the work head comprising: Including at least one hair removal tool defining a skin contact profile of the head, the at least one hair removal tool being movable relative to the handle under skin contact pressure by a support structure, wherein the skin contact of the working head to the handle Allows contour pivoting.

  Hair removal devices, such as electric razors, epilators, or beard trimmers, typically allow long hair and medium and short hair and stubble to be removed, as commonly found in male beards and female feet. Includes various types of hair removal tools. The short hair cutter can include a thin flexible mesh screen or a movable cutter blade or undercutter that cooperates with an aperture or perforated foil, such a mesh screen or foil having a round elongated profile, It can reciprocate along the longitudinal axis under such an elongated round profile of the mesh screen. Other types of short hair cutters use rotary cutter elements, which can be driven in a vibratory or continuous manner and cooperate with a disk-shaped mesh screen that covers the rotary cutter elements. May be. By slidably guiding the mesh screen or perforated foil onto the skin surface to be shaved, individual hair shafts enter the holes formed in the screen or foil and are cut by the movement of the cutting blade.

  In the case of medium hair and / or long hair fibers, a separate hair trimmer can be provided on the working head and such a trimmer can be placed adjacent to one of the short hair cutters. For example, such a trimmer may form an elongated block extending along one of an elongated circular mesh screen or a perforated foil of a short cutter. Such a trimmer can include a cutter bar having a pair of sickle finger bars that reciprocate with each other, but can also include a foil or cover plate having a relatively large opening, with a cutting blade underneath. An under cutter reciprocates or continuously rotates to cut the hair entering the opening.

  In order to achieve good hair removal performance, the short hair cutter, long hair cutter, and other hair removal tools should be positioned substantially perpendicular to the skin to be treated, but non-uniform Due to skin contour and skin surface orientation, when the hair removal tool needs to be unnaturally twisted in order to hold the device handle in a position that is actually perpendicular to the surface, it is difficult There is.

  In order to correct the handle held in the wrong orientation, it is equipped with a hair removal tool that is movably supported relative to the handle under skin contact pressure by the support structure, so that the skin contact contour of the working head can be adapted to the orientation of the skin surface Thus, it is known to pivot the skin contact profile of the working head relative to the handle. Such pivotable self-adaptation of the hair removal tool orientation can be achieved in a variety of ways, including the multi-axis mobility of the hair removal tool. For example, some support structures allow uniaxial or multi-axial pivoting relative to the handle of the entire work head frame, in addition to pivoting of the work head frame, short hair cutters and / or trimmer tools relative to the work head frame. Allows diving / levitation and / or pivoting. For example, if there is one or more removal tools, such as a pair of short hair cutters and long hair cutters, the working head is configured to work the short hair cutter in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact profile or substantially along a circular path. By immersing in the frame, for example, one hair removal tool is hidden and the other hair removal tool achieves pivoting of the skin contact profile when not under asymmetric skin contact pressure on multiple hair removal tools be able to.

  Such self-regulating work heads and hair removal tools can achieve sufficient self-matching to the skin contour and skin surface orientation while at the same time increasing skin contact pressure to achieve complete hair removal in specific areas. It is cumbersome to give the user a feeling of control. One reason for inadequate self-fit is that, in practice, some users desire a mild treatment and gently press the working head against the skin. On the other hand, some users apply a relatively high contact pressure to achieve complete hair removal, for example, in the upper lip region under the nose, which is adversely affected by excessive self-adaptation due to the skin contact profile of the working head.

  For example, document EP 1854593 B1 describes an electric razor having a working head with a set of short hair cutters and long hair cutters pivotable with respect to the handle to achieve self-adaptation to skin contour and skin surface orientation. It is described. To avoid undesired pivoting due to the weight of the working head, for example, the razor is not held upright, but in a substantially horizontal position, the shaver head weight generates torque by the lever arm relative to the pivot axis In doing so, it has been proposed to add a counterweight that compensates for the undesirable pivoting tendency. More specifically, the weight applying member is connected to the pivotable working head structure and extends to the pivot shaft side opposite to the main part of the working head. However, such a balance weight greatly increases the inertia of the working head structure and reduces the agility of the portable device.

EP1854593B1

  The object underlying the present invention is to provide an improved hair removal device which avoids at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art and / or further develops existing solutions. A more specific object underlying the present invention is to provide an improved working head structure for a hair removal device with improved self-fit to changes in skin contour and skin surface orientation. Another object underlying the present invention is to achieve a thorough treatment, providing a good sense of control when the working head is pressed against the skin part, and complex over a wide range of angles with a low irritation treatment to the skin. It is to simplify the self-adaptation of the hair removal tool to a smooth skin contour.

  At least one of the above objects is achieved by a hair removal device having the features of claim 1. At least one of the above objects is also achieved by a hair removal device having the features of claim 6. At least one of the above objects is also achieved by a hair removal device having the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments are given by the features of the dependent claims.

  In order to achieve at least one of the aforementioned objectives, the hair removal device has a working head over a predetermined angular range, even when carefully sliding the working head along the skin to achieve a hypoallergenic treatment. And an improved working head structure for pivoting the skin contact profile. More specifically, the skin contact profile of the working head can be pivoted about the pivot axis over a relatively large angular range with a small contact pressure. According to one aspect, the support structure that movably supports the hair removal tool relative to the handle has an angle of +/− 15 degrees or more and 1.5N or less under a contact pressure of 0.75N or less with respect to the handle. Configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile at an angle of +/− 20 degrees or more under a contact pressure of. Such a configuration of the support structure allows a wide range of self-adaptation during skin hypoallergenic procedures with low contact pressure.

  More specifically, the support structure has an angle of +/− 22.5 degrees or more with a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less and about +/− 30 degrees with a contact pressure of 1.25 N or less with respect to the handle. It may be configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile at the above angles.

  Pivoting resistance applied to the working head and / or hair removal tool necessary to achieve pivoting of the skin contact profile and / or to achieve a specific angular displacement of the skin contact profile, i.e. force and / or Torque can arise to some extent as a result of frictional resistance of the support structure and / or frictional resistance, for example due to the coupling of the drive structure between the hair removal tool and the motor position, and / or form part of the support structure It may be controlled by a possible pivot resistance control device.

  The support structure may include a biasing device for biasing the hair removal tool to a modified position and / or a neutral (predefined) position in the absence of skin contact pressure, for example, A spring device may be included that attempts to bias the hair removal tool toward the neutral position. Such a neutral position may be an intermediate position in which the skin contact contour can pivot towards the opposite angular position, for example in terms of clockwise and counterclockwise pivoting. In addition to or instead of such biasing means or support structure, the braking force and / or that must be exceeded when changing the angular position of the skin contact contour and / or pivoting the skin contact contour A braking device may be included for providing braking torque. Additionally or alternatively, such biasing means or support structure may include a damper or braking device that provides pivoting resistance / torque to the working head. The pivot resistance control device may optionally switch on / off (including automatic switching on / off).

  In the presence of the biasing device described above, the pretension provided by such a biasing device needs to be exceeded to achieve a particular pivot position. As noted above, the biasing device may be configured to provide a relatively low pivot resistance to facilitate self-adaptation during a hypoallergenic treatment of the skin under a small contact pressure. However, the biasing device is sufficiently effective to bias the hair removal tool to a neutral position where no skin contact pressure is applied, even though the hair removal device and its handle are held in an upright or horizontal position. .

  According to yet another aspect, the support structure is adjustable with respect to the range of angular displacement in which the pivoting resistance and the skin contact profile of the working head can pivot. More specifically, a pivot range adjustment device is provided for adjusting a pivot angle at which the skin contact contour is pivotable relative to the handle, at least when the angle is less than +/− 35 degrees and +/− 5. Adjusted to have a first setting greater than degrees and a second setting where the angle is less than +/− 25 degrees and greater than +/− 5 degrees, and the second setting is different from the first setting. .

  The pivot range adjustment device may be coupled to a pivot resistance control device and may be configured to increase the pivot resistance when reducing the angular range over which the skin contact contour can pivot. In other words, reducing the pivot range increases the stiffness of the working head and hair removal tool, providing a better sense of control.

  These and other advantages will be apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings and possible examples.

1 is a front view of a hair removal device for an electric razor comprising a handle and a work head attached to the handle, the work head including a set of hair cutting tools. FIG. 2 is a side view of the working head of the electric razor of FIG. 1 with the hair removal tool in a neutral position. FIG. 3 is a side view of a working head similar to FIG. 2, wherein the hair removal tool provides pivoting of the working head skin contact profile by taking a latent position under asymmetric contact pressure. FIG. 4 is a side view of the working head similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing pivoting of the working head frame about the pivot axis. FIG. 5 is a top view of the working head of FIGS. 2-4, showing a pivot axis and a tilt axis that allow multi-axis pivoting. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of an electric razor similar to FIG. 1, showing an internal support structure of a drive system for reciprocating a work head and a hair removal tool. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive train of FIG. 6 showing the arrangement of pivotable drive plates between a pair of roller bearings. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an internal support structure and biasing device for supporting and biasing a working head, showing an adjustment device for adjusting the angular pivot range and biasing force. FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views of the working head similar to FIGS. 2 to 4, wherein a partial view (a) shows a neutral position of the hair removal tool, and a partial view (b) shows a working head frame at an angle α1 under a contact pressure F <b> 1. Part (c) shows the pivoting of the skin contact surface by letting one of the hair removal tools under the contact pressure F2 by a pivoting angle α2. FIG. 10 is a side view of a working head basically similar to FIG. 9, wherein the working head frame is pivotally supported, but the hair removal tool enables pivoting of the hair removal tool relative to the working head frame. 9 is different from the example of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional relationship of pivot angles that can be achieved under a specific contact pressure, and a dark gray region indicates a range of pivot angles and contact pressures that are more useful than other examples. FIG. 10 shows the pivot angle of the working head of the electric razor of FIGS. 1 to 9 with respect to the handle under skin contact pressure acting on the skin contact contour of the working head.

  In order to better fit the skin contour and correct the “wrong” orientation of the handle, the hair removal device can be used even when the work head is carefully slid along the skin to perform a hypoallergenic treatment And having an improved working head structure that allows pivoting movement of the skin contact profile of the working head over a wide angular range. More specifically, the skin contact profile of the working head can be pivoted over a relatively wide range under small contact pressure. According to one aspect, the hair removal tool is attached to a support structure that movably supports the hair removal tool relative to the handle, and to a change position that may or may not be in the neutral position in the absence of skin contact pressure. The biasing device is biased with respect to the handle at an angle of about +/− 15 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less and / or at an angle of about +/− 25 degrees or more under a contact pressure of 1.5 N or less. Configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile. Such a configuration of the support structure and biasing device allows a wide range of self-adaptation during hypoallergenic procedures on the skin with low contact pressure. Even though the hair removal device and its handle are held in an upright or horizontal position, the biasing device is sufficiently effective to bias the hair removal tool to the changed position. More specifically, the biasing device and the support structure have an angle of +/− 22.5 degrees or more with a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less with respect to the handle and about + under a contact pressure of 1.25 N or less. It may be configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile at an angle greater than / −30 degrees.

  According to yet another aspect, the biasing device and the support structure can adjust the pivoting resistance and the angular range over which the skin contact profile of the working head can pivot. More specifically, a pivot range adjustment device is provided for adjusting a pivot angle at which the skin contact contour is pivotable relative to the handle, wherein at least the angle is less than +/− 35 degrees and + / A first setting greater than −5 degrees and a second setting where the angle is less than +/− 25 degrees and greater than 5 degrees are adjusted, and the second setting is different from the first setting.

  The kinematics of the support structure can have different configurations. For example, there may be only one pivot axis about which the entire working head can pivot relative to the handle. Alternatively, the support structure may allow multi-axis pivoting, for example, if the working head is considered to be in a neutral position, the pivot axis and the tilt axis (in the case of bi-axial pivoting) are substantially Perpendicular to each other and extending parallel to the inclusion surface of the skin contact profile of the working head. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one hair removal tool can pivot relative to the working head frame and dive or float.

  More particularly, it may be possible for at least one hair removal tool to pivot at different levels.

  According to another aspect, at least one hair removal tool or a portion of the hair removal tool is movably supported with respect to the working head frame, the working head frame being pivotally supported with respect to the handle. The support structure and the biasing device may pivot the working head frame at an angle α1 of +/− 20 degrees or more under the contact pressure F1 with respect to the handle. By moving the depilation tool relative to the working head frame by moving the hair removal tool about +/− 2 degrees or +/− 5 degrees or more under the contact pressure F2 around the pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis. The contact pressure F1 configured to allow the skin contact contour to pivot at an angle α2 and to pivot the working head frame is applied to the hair removal tool or the movable part of the head frame relative to the working head frame. C It is smaller than the contact pressure F2 to be moved with respect to the other part of the handle or the head frame. Additionally or alternatively, a portion of the working head frame may move relative to the handle and / or other portions of the working head frame.

  More specifically, the contact pressure F1 for pivoting the work head frame may be 0.5 N or less, and the contact pressure F2 for moving the hair removal tool relative to the work head frame is 1.5 N or less. There may be.

  According to yet another aspect, there is provided a pivot range adjustment device for adjusting a pivot angle α at which the skin contact contour is pivotable with respect to the handle so as to have a first setting different from the second setting. It may be provided. Preferably, the angle difference between both settings is about 0 degrees or more, more preferably about 3 degrees. Preferably, in the first setting, the angle α is less than +/− 35 degrees and more than +/− 5 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle α is less than +/− 25 degrees and +/− 5 degrees. The second setting is different from the first setting.

  In prior art shavers, it is known to lock the shaver head so that the shaver head cannot pivot relative to the handle. This is also possible for the working head of the hair removal apparatus of the present invention. However, in addition to such a lock, the pivot range adjustment means described above can be set so that the maximum pivot angle has a different value (each value being different from 0). In other words, the maximum pivot angle can be set to have a large value and to have a smaller but non-zero value.

  According to yet another aspect, in the first setting, the angle α may be less than +/− 30 degrees and greater than +/− 20 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle α is +/−. It may be less than 20 degrees and greater than +/- 5 degrees.

  The pivot range adjustment device may be configured such that the maximum pivot angle can be continuously adjusted over a specific range. For example, if the maximum pivot angle can be adjusted over a range of +/− 5 degrees to +/− 20 degrees, continuous adjustment is any value between −5 degrees and +20 degrees to the maximum allowable pivot angle. It means that it can be set. Such continuous adjustment can meet the user's needs in detail.

  Additionally or alternatively, the pivot range adjustment device may be configured to allow step adjustment of the maximum pivot angle, such step adjustment may be, for example, +/− 5 ° to +/−. It may include at least three steps of 10 ° to +/− 20 °. Such gradual adjustment allows for faster setting and leads to faster recognition of changes in the pivot range.

  According to another aspect, the pivot resistance control device biases the skin contact profile of the work head to a particular pivot position against forces and / or torques applied to the work head frame and / or hair removal tool. The resistance that needs to be exceeded may be adjustable. The resistance that the adjustment device needs to overcome allows the responsiveness and control sensation to be adjusted by varying the resistance against the pivoting and / or levitation of the hair removal tool. More specifically, as the resistance and / or torque increases, the working head provides a more aggressive and agile operation, which typically treats certain skin areas such as the upper lip below the nose carefully. Sometimes recognized. On the other hand, as the drag force and / or torque is reduced, the skin contact profile of the working head can be pivoted more easily, i.e., with less resistance to allow a less irritating procedure.

  The adjustment of the pivot resistance control device, such as a biasing device, can be made simultaneously with the adjustment of the pivot range in order to achieve the adjustment of the pivot stiffness and / or the floating stiffness and the adjustment of the pivot range at the same time. More specifically, the aforementioned pivot range adjustment device is connected to the biasing device and / or the pivot resistance adjustment device, and by starting one adjustment device, the pivot resistance force and / or torque and the pivot is adjusted. The moving angle range can be adjusted.

  According to one aspect, the pivot range adjustment may be coupled to the resistance adjustment such that the resistance force and / or torque increases as the angular pivot range decreases. On the other hand, as the pivot angle range is increased, i.e., the maximum allowable pivot angle is increased, the resistance and / or torque is reduced to allow easy pivoting over a wide range.

  The aforementioned pivot range adjustment device and / or bias adjustment device may comprise a manual actuator so that the pivot range and / or bias can be adjusted manually. For example, a sliding knob or a rotatable adjustment element may be provided to allow adjustment of the pivot range and / or biasing force / torque.

  Additionally or alternatively, adjustment actuators such as electric motors, magnetic elements, or hydraulic cylinders may be provided to allow automatic or semi-automatic starting of the pivot range adjustment device and / or the bias adjustment device. Good. For example, such an adjustment actuator may be controlled by an electronic control unit in response to one or more processing parameters detected by a corresponding detector when operating a hair removal device during a hair removal session. . For example, the hair removal device may include a skin pressure sensor for detecting the skin contact pressure of the work head and / or the hair removal tool, and the electronic control unit responds to a signal of the skin contact sensor indicating the skin contact pressure. Thus, the pivoting range and / or biasing of the adjustment actuator can be changed. More specifically, when the skin contact sensor detects that the work head is strongly pressed against the skin surface, the adjustment actuator increases the biasing force and / or the biasing torque and / or pivots. It can be operated to reduce the adjustment range to a smaller maximum pivot angle.

  According to one aspect, a switch is provided to turn the bias adjustment device (26) and / or the pivot resistance control device on and off, or automatically when, for example, the skin contact pressure is below a certain threshold Can be turned on and off.

  According to another aspect, the hair removal device comprises the support structure and / or the biasing device, both devices handle depending on the contact pressure and / or skin contact pressure that the skin contact contour applies to the skin. Configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile in approximately various angular ranges relative to A user who presses the work tool stronger than usual against the skin, for example, in order to improve the head controllability at the head pivot position in spite of a relatively high pressing force, It is interpreted that a small shaver head mobility and / or a relatively difficult mobility is desired.

  These and other features will be apparent from the examples shown in the drawings. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the hair removal device can be configured as an electric razor 1 including a razor housing forming a handle 3, and a drive unit including an electric motor and an electronic control unit is accommodated inside the handle 3 a. Can be done. Such a handle 3 can have an elongated substantially bone-shaped configuration extending along the longitudinal axis 3l.

  The work head may be attached to the handle 3 at one end of the handle 3, and the work head 2 may be movably supported on the handle 3. For example, the support structure 11 that supports the work head 2 at the handle 3 may be a single-axis or multi-axis pivot (eg, two axes or an indefinite / unlimited number of axes) and / or pivoting of the entire work head 2 relative to the handle 3. Can be made possible.

  In addition to such basic mobility, the working head 3 can allow some kind of internal movement. More specifically, the working head 2 includes a plurality of hair removal tools 4 that can include a pair of short hair cutters 5 and 6 and a trimmer 7 that are movably supported relative to the base structure of the working head. The working head may also include wings and each wing may include at least one hair cutting unit that can move relative to the other wing.

  More specifically, the working head 3 can be pivotally supported on the handle 3 around a pivot frame 8 that allows the working frame 2 to pivot, and thus the pivot of the entire working head 2. Alternatively, a working head frame 12 can be included. In an alternative where the working head includes a wing, the working head may be movable relative to the handle as a whole, but the wings may also be movable individually relative to the handle and relative to each other. Furthermore, each hair cutter may be movable relative to each other as well as to the wing on which the handle and at least one hair cutter are provided. The working head frame may be divided into two parts that are movable relative to each other if the working head includes two wing structures. Each wing may include one or more hair cutting units.

  The pivot axis 8 extends parallel to the first plane separating the short hair cutters 4 and 5 from each other and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 31 of the handle 3. It may extend parallel to the second plane.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, the short hair cutters 5 and 6 and the trimmer 7 may be in an elongated substantially block shape and / or an elongated substantially rectangular shape. Includes a flexible mesh screen with a curved surface under which the undercutter and / or cutter blade block can reciprocate. On the other hand, the trimmer 7 includes an apertured foil having a relatively large opening under which a pair of sickle finger bars and / or an undercutter with a cutting blade can reciprocate relative to each other. Also good.

  Since the short hair cutter and the trimmer have an elongated shape as described above, the skin contact surface of the working head 2 formed by the upper surfaces of the short hair cutters 5 and 6 and the trimmer 7 can have a belt-like configuration. And overall, it can have a rectangular configuration when viewed from above. In a rotary cutting system, the skin contact surface comprises a circular or ring or disk-shaped part of each rotary cutting unit, all of which gather, for example convex or concave or flat, depending on the skin contact contour of the user's skin. A simple skin contact profile may be formed.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3, the hair removal tool 4 viewed from the perspective of the short hair cutters 5 and 6 and the trimmer 7 can float with respect to the working head frame 12, so that at least the skin contact contour 9 is shown in FIG. Thus, when considered to be in the neutral or initial position, it can dive into the working head tool along a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact contour 9. Since each hair removal tool 4 can float or dive individually, the skin contact contour 9 can pivot when one of the hair removal tools 4 is submerged and the other is not. Specifically, when subjected to asymmetric skin pressure, one of the short hair cutters 5 is submerged while the other is not submerged, and the skin contact contour 9 is substantially parallel to the pivot axis 8 described above. Pivot around the axis. The skin contact contour 9 is illustrated as a line that follows the skin contour. The part of the hair removal tool / cutting unit / hair cutter that is in contact with the skin is also understood as the skin contact profile 9. The skin contact surface may include a skin contact contour 9.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, multi-axis pivoting is possible, and the second pivot axis 14 may extend substantially perpendicular to the first pivot axis 8 described above. Such pivoting around the second pivot axis 14 may also occur at different levels. That is, the support structure 11 may be able to pivot the working head frame 12 about such a second axis 14 and / or the hair removal tool 4 may be the second It may float and / or dive asymmetrically with respect to the working head frame 12 so as to pivot relative to the working head frame 12 about the axis 14.

  Due to the multiple degrees of freedom of the working head 2 and its hair removal tool 4, various pivotal responses can occur to the force applied to the working head 2 and / or the hair removal tool 4 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the skin contact pressure F <b> 1 acting on one of the outer hair removal tools 4 such as the left short hair cutter 5 can pivot the work head frame 12 around the pivot shaft 8. The pivoting of the working head frame 12 is indicated by the pivoting angle α1.

  On the other hand, the skin contact pressure F2 applied to one of the outer hair removal tools 4 such as the outer short hair cutter 5 also causes the outer short hair cutter 5 to be submerged and / or floated, resulting in pivoting of the skin contact contour 9. Move. The pivoting of the skin contact contour 9 due to the dive and / or levitation of the hair removal tool 4 relative to the working head frame 12 is indicated by the pivot angle α2. Please refer to FIG. In the alternative case where the head frame comprises two parts movable relative to each other, the skin contact contour of each part of the cutting unit may not be on one line.

  The force applied to one of the hair removal tools 4 in response to the biasing force and / or biasing torque applied to the biasing device 10, more specifically the hair removal tool 4 and / or the working head frame 12. Can pivot at least a part of the working head frame 12 and / or pivot the skin contact contour 9 by the dive of the hair removal tool 4.

  The biasing device 10 may include a separate biasing element 10 a for biasing the hair removal tool 4 against the working head frame 12, which biasing element 10 a may be used for the hair removal tool 4 against the working head frame 12. Attempt to avoid dive and / or lift and / or bias the tool 4 to a neutral position where the hair removal tool 4 has a maximum height relative to the working head frame 12. On the other hand, the biasing device 10 can include a biasing element 10 b for biasing the work head frame 12 to a neutral angle position with respect to the handle 3. Please refer to FIG. Additional biasing portions may be provided to bias the parts of the working head frame against each other and / or the handle.

  A biasing device that biases at least a part of the working head frame to a predetermined position may be provided. This fixed or predetermined position is not necessarily a central position or a position where the head moves based only on gravity. Alternatively, this fixed position may be designed, for example, so that the head is in a position where the cutting unit is best viewed.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and 9 (c), the aforementioned forces F1 and F2 may be forces acting on the outermost hair removal tool 4, and the outermost hair removal tool is pivoted. In the cross section perpendicular to the axis, it has the longest lever arm with respect to the pivot axis. Depending on the contour of the hair removal tool, the forces F1 and F2 can act on the hair removal tool at its middle or its outer edge. For example, when short hair cutters 5 and 6 are considered, such a tool may have a substantially rounded semi-cylindrical skin contact profile, usually such a barrel-like upper part. The central part contacts the skin. Therefore, a realistic approach is to assume that the forces F1 and F2 act on the central part of the short hair cutters 5 and 6. See FIGS. 9 (b) and 9 (c).

  On the other hand, when the working head 2 includes a rotary substantially cup-shaped hair removal tool 4 as shown in FIG. 10, in a practical approach, the forces F1 and F2 are applied to the outer edge and / or inner edge of the cup-shaped rotary cutter. Acting on the part, the rotary cutter can pivot via the associated lever arm.

  In any case, that is, regardless of whether a substantially cylindrical barrel-shaped cutter as shown in FIG. 9 or a cup-shaped cutter as shown in FIG. 10 is used, the force F1 and F2 can be considered to be applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the skin contact contour 9 at the neutral position of the working head 2 and the hair removal tool 4. For example, in the neutral position of the device, when the skin contact contour 9 is horizontal as shown in FIG. 2, the forces F1 and F2 are applied vertically. The skin contact surface may include a skin contact contour 9.

The determination of the forces F1 and / or F2 can include:
-The razor is turned on by fully charging the battery, or (in the case of a product without battery) plugging into an outlet. If various settings are available, the highest head vibration level / highest power level setting is used. If these levels are different, the highest head vibration level setting is used.
The test is carried out under laboratory conditions.
-The razor is thoroughly cleaned, eg all whiskers and dirt are removed.
-All parts performing relative motion can be lubricated with machine oil (after cleaning and before testing).
-To measure F1, it is necessary to prevent the movement caused by F2, for example via a mechanical fixture that prevents the short-hair cutter and / or trimmer tool from dive / move relative to each other obtain. Similarly, to measure F2, it may be necessary to prevent movement caused by F1, for example via a mechanical fixture that prevents rotation of the working head frame about the pivot axis relative to the handle. .
The razor is thus fixed in the holder, so that the working head with the skin contact contour 9 is aligned horizontally. The applied force is set perpendicular to this configuration.
The cutter and / or the support structure are pushed down onto the block. Force and movement are measured with a Mecmesin force and torque test system. The system requires displacement values based on force values and angle values.

  As already mentioned, by applying the forces F1 and / or F2 on the hair removal tool of the working head 2, the pivot angles α1 and / or pivot angles that actually overlap and / or are coupled to each other. α2 can be provided. In other words, the skin contact contour 9 defined by the inclusion surface on the hair removal tool 4 can pivot by an angle α about the sum of the partial pivot angles α1 and α2.

  Considering the possible pivoting kinematics and force application structure, the support structure 11 and the biasing device 10 are approximately +/− 15 under a contact pressure F of 0.75 N or less against the handle 3. Configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile 9 at an angle α of greater than or equal to degrees and / or an angle α of greater than or equal to about +/− 25 degrees under a contact pressure of 1.5 N or less.

  More specifically, the support structure 11 and the biasing device 10 have an angle α of about +/− 22.5 degrees or more and 1.25 N or less with respect to the handle 3 under a contact pressure of 0.75 N or less. It may be configured to allow the skin contact contour 9 to pivot at an angle α of about +/− 30 degrees or more under a contact pressure of.

  According to another aspect, the support structure 11 and the biasing device 10 are provided with a working head frame at an angle α1 of +/− 20 degrees or more under a contact pressure F1 about the pivot axis 8 with respect to the handle 3. 12 is allowed to pivot, and by moving the hair removal tool 4 with respect to the working head frame 12 under contact pressure F2 about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis 8, +/− The contact pressure F <b> 1 configured to allow the skin contact contour 9 to pivot at an angle α <b> 2 of 5 degrees or more and pivot the work head frame 12 causes the hair removal tool 4 to move against the work head frame 12. It is smaller than the contact pressure F2 to be moved.

  More specifically, the contact pressure F1 for pivoting at least a part of the work head frame 12 is 0.5 N or less, and the contact pressure F2 for moving the hair removal tool 4 relative to the work head frame 12 is 1. .5N or less.

  The available pivot angle and the effective range of force F necessary to achieve the pivot angle α is indicated by FIG. 11, more specifically by the region 15 in the figure. FIG. 11 is a diagram in which one axis shows the skin contact pressure F in Newton units, and the other axis shows the pivot angle α.

  A particularly advantageous subregion 16 is a pivot of about +/− 35 degrees to +/− 37.5 degrees, ie about 70 degrees to 75 degrees in total, under a skin contact pressure F of about 1 N to 1.5 N. Indicates the angle.

  Basically, the support structure 11 including the biasing device 10 may be set to allow about +/− 25 degrees of pivot under a skin contact pressure of 1.5 N or less.

  As described above, the support structure 11 or biasing device may include other types of pivot resistance control devices, such as braking devices and / or dampers, and adjusts for pivot resistance and / or pivot resistance torque. It may be possible.

  In order to avoid an undesirable limitation of the pivoting behavior, the hair removal device may be provided with a drive system that avoids large frictional forces that increase the pivoting resistance. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a drive source such as an electric motor 16 can cause reciprocation of the hair removal tool 4 such as the short hair cutters 5 and 6 or the trimmer 7, and the motor 16 The drive system 17 that connects the hair removal tool 4 to the hair removal tool 4 includes low friction bearings, while transmitting drive motion to the hair removal tool 4 to allow the hair removal tool 4 to pivot relative to the motor 16.

  For example, the drive system 17 may include a vibration or reciprocating drive element 19 that can reciprocate substantially linearly in a direction substantially parallel to the cutting motion of the hair removal tool 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the drive element 19 may oscillate substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3 l of the handle 3.

  Further, the drive system 17 may include a second drive element 20 coupled to the hair removal tool 4 to perform a reciprocating or oscillating motion with the hair removal tool 4, for example, , Firmly connected to the drive bridge 21, and then drivably connected to the hair removal tool 4. The aforementioned drive element 20 may take the form of a plate and / or a rod having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the vibration axis of the other drive element 19.

  As can be seen from FIG. 7, the drive element 20 is coupled to the drive element 19 by at least one low friction bearing 18, which is substantially between a pair of low friction bearings 18 connected to the drive element 19. Can be accommodated without play. The low friction bearing 18 may include a roller bearing, for example, and / or a sliding bearing. For example, the drive element 19 may include a fork having two arms spaced from each other, each arm 22, 23 being provided with one of the low friction bearings 18 that house the drive element 20 therebetween. The low friction bearing 18 allows the working head frame 12 and / or the hair removal tool 4 to pivot relative to the handle 3 with little frictional resistance from the drive system 17.

  As can be seen from FIG. 8, there may be adjustment of the pivot angle range and / or biasing force and / or biasing torque. For example, in order to adjust the pivot angle at which the skin contact contour 9 is pivotable relative to the handle 3, the first setting is such that the angle α is less than +/− 35 degrees and greater than +/− 5 degrees. A pivot range adjustment device 13 having a second setting in which the angle α is less than +/− 25 degrees and greater than +/− 5 degrees, and the second setting is different from the first setting. May be.

  For example, in the first setting, the angle α may be less than +/− 30 degrees and more than +/− 20 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle α is less than +/− 20 degrees and +/−. It may be greater than −5.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the pivoting range adjustment device 13 has a continuous adjustment of the angle α of at least +/− 5 degrees to +/− 20 degrees and / or at least +/− 5 degrees to +/− 20 degrees. It is configured to allow stepwise adjustment of the angle α including at least three steps.

  According to an advantageous aspect, the biasing device 10 is adjustable with respect to the biasing force and / or biasing torque by the biasing adjustment device 26 and provides various biasing forces and / or biasing torques.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the pivot range adjustment device 13 is connected to the bias adjustment device 26 so as to increase the biasing force and / or the biasing torque of the biasing device 10 when reducing the angle α. Composed.

  As can be seen from FIG. 8, the pivot range adjustment device 13 includes an adjustment element 24, for example a sleeve that cooperates with the biasing element 10 b of the biasing device 10 to bias the working head frame 12 to the neutral position. May be included. The adjustment actuator 25 moves the adjustment element 24 to various positions that limit the mobility of the biasing element 10b and / or the preload biasing element 10b in various ways and / or at various levels. It may be provided.

  The pivot angle is described as a +/− value. This means that the total pivot range is a 2 × value, for example, a pivot angle of +/− 20 degrees refers to a total drive range of 40 degrees of 2 × 20 degrees. The value of the pivot angle +/− can refer to a pivot value in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction with respect to a predetermined position or a neutral position. This +/− value encompasses all options where the entire range is a 2 × value regardless of the starting point and the pivoting motion in one or two directions, for example the +/− value of the pivoting angle is From one predetermined end position of the working head or skin contact profile in a single direction.

Hair cutting tools, hair cutting units, individual cutting elements,
The terms short hair cutter and trimmer may be understood to be interchangeable.

  The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Rather, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

Claims (15)

  Hair removal device, in particular an electric razor (1), a work head (2), attached to a handle (3) for moving said work head (2) along the skin surface (2), wherein said working head (2) comprises at least one hair removal tool (4) defining a skin contact profile (9) of said working head (2), said at least one hair removal tool (4) ) Is movable relative to the handle (3) under skin contact pressure by means of a support structure (11), enabling pivoting of the skin contact contour (9) of the working head relative to the handle (3). A biasing device (10) is provided for biasing and / or providing movement resistance to the hair removal tool (4), the support structure (11) and the biasing device (10) comprising the handle ( 3) said skin contact Under contact pressure (F) of 0.75 N or less around the pivot axis (8, 14) of contour (9), angle (α) of +/− 15 degrees or more and / or contact pressure of 1.5 N or less A hair removal device configured to allow pivoting at an angle (α) greater than or equal to +/− 20 degrees.   The support structure (11) and the biasing device (10) are 0.75 N or less centered on the pivot axis (8, 14) of the skin contact contour (9) with respect to the handle (3). Allows pivoting at an angle (α) of +/− 22.5 degrees or more under contact pressure (F) and / or an angle (α) of +/− 30 degrees or more under contact pressure of 1.25 N or less. The hair removal apparatus according to claim 1, configured as described above.   3. Hair according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing device (10) is provided to bias the hair removal tool (4) to a predetermined and / or neutral position in the absence of skin contact pressure. Removal device. The at least one hair removal tool (4) is movably supported relative to the working head frame (12);
The working head frame (12) is pivotally supported relative to the handle (3);
Enabling the skin contact profile (9) to pivot about the pivot axis (8, 14) relative to the handle (3), the support structure (11) and the biasing device (10) being The working head frame (12) is pivoted at an angle (α1) of +/− 20 degrees or more under a contact pressure (F1) about the pivot axis (8) with respect to the handle (3). Enabling / moving the hair removal tool (4) with respect to the working head frame (12) under contact pressure (F2) about a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis (8) + / -The contact pressure (F1) configured to allow the skin contact contour (9) to pivot at an angle (α2) greater than -2 degrees, and pivoting the working head frame (12), The contact pressure (4) for moving the hair removal tool (4) relative to the working head frame (12) The hair removal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is smaller than F2).   The contact pressure (F1) for pivoting the work head frame (12) is 0.5 N or less, and the contact pressure (F2) for moving the hair removal tool (4) relative to the work head frame (12). ) Is 1.5 N or less, The body hair removal apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4.   A pivot range adjustment device (13) for adjusting the pivot angle (α) is provided, wherein the skin contact contour (9) is pivotable relative to the handle (3), the angle (α) 6 is different between the first setting and the second setting, in particular, the angle varies from approximately 0 degrees or 3 degrees in both the first setting and the second setting. The hair removal apparatus according to claim 1 or the preamble of claim 1.   In the first setting, the angle (α) is less than +/− 30 degrees and more than +/− 20 degrees, and in the second setting, the angle (α) is less than +/− 20 degrees and + The hair removal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the hair removal apparatus is more than / -2 degrees.   The pivot range adjustment device (13) is capable of continuously adjusting an angle (α) of at least +/− 2 degrees to +/− 20 degrees and / or an angle of at least +/− 5 degrees to +/− 20 degrees ( The hair removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hair removal device is configured to allow stepwise adjustment including at least three steps of α).   The biasing device (10) and / or the support structure (10) may be provided by a biasing adjustment device (26) and / or a pivoting resistance control device that provides different pivoting resistance forces and / or pivoting resistance torques. The hair removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is adjustable with respect to a pivoting resistance force and / or a pivoting resistance torque.   The pivot range adjustment device (13) is connected to the bias adjustment device (26) and / or a pivot resistance control device, and the pivot resistance force and / or pivot resistance when the angle (α) decreases. The hair removal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the hair removal apparatus is configured to increase torque.   The adjustment actuator (25) controlled by the electronic control unit is responsive to at least one processing parameter detected by the detector (26) when operating the hair removal device during a hair removal session, A contour (9) is provided for automatically adjusting the pivot angle (α) that is pivotable relative to the handle (3) and / or the pivot resistance / torque. Item 11. The hair removal apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 10.   The detector (26) provides the skin contact pressure of the working head (2) to the control unit configured to control the adjustment actuator (25) in response to the detected skin contact pressure. 12. A hair removal device according to claim 11 including a skin contact pressure sensor that provides a signal to indicate.   A motor for driving the hair removal tool (4) is housed in the handle (31) to reduce the inertia of the working head with respect to pivoting. The hair removal apparatus according to item.   A switch is provided to turn on and off the bias adjustment device (26) and / or the pivot resistance control device, or at least one automatic switch operating device is detected by the detector 14. According to any one of claims 9 to 13, provided to automatically turn on and off the biasing adjustment device (26) and / or the pivot resistance control device in accordance with processing parameters. The hair removal apparatus as described.   The contact pressure (F) and / or the support structure (11) and / or the biasing device (10) applied to the skin by the skin contact contour (9) against the handle (3) 15. Preamble according to claim 1 or any one of claims 1 to 14, configured to allow pivoting of the skin contact profile (9) in different angle (α) ranges depending on skin contact pressure. The hair removal apparatus described in 1.

Images